Letter in support of the New York Aviation Jobs Act

Dear Governor Cuomo, Majority Leader Skelos and Speaker Silver:

The Long Island Association (LIA) supports the New York Aviation Jobs Act, A.4818 (Lupardo) and S.2678 (Larkin), which is critical to New York''s ability to sustain and expand the demonstrated state revenue enhancement and job creating power of the state''s aviation industry.

In order to improve our business climate, stay competitive with other states, create quality jobs, and maintain aviation''s contribution to the state''s economy, it is necessary to provide for a sales tax exemption for the purchase of general aviation aircraft. This is a vital economic development tool designed to put New York on par with other states regarding the tax treatment of the sales of such aircraft. Meanwhile, New York is losing sales and basing of these aircraft - along with the jobs and related economic activity and development that accompany such investments - to neighboring states whose tax policies favor and encourage these transactions.